March 5, 2020
Greetings!
Hello Aquila Families,

It's been a busy and fun few weeks at Aquila. Our students have shown that they are living the IB Learner Profile Attributes. 

Our first-grade students demonstrated that they are inquirers as they were using the engineering design cycle to collaboratively construct ramps to cause cars to go greater distances. 

Our fourth-grade students had the joyous opportunity to watch a theatre performance about energy. They were enthusiastic to learn about energy and will become more knowledgeable about electricity and alternative energy sources in their upcoming unit of inquiry, Sharing the Planet.

Students were risk-takers while they demonstrated their double-dutch skills during an assembly. The assembly “kicked-off” our HealthMovesMinds initiative that inspires our students to have healthy habits, fuel active minds, and teach them to thrive physically and emotionally. 

To celebrate I Love to Read month, classes relaxed and read in the set from Dear Edwina Jr that was showcased in our front foyer. 

To honor Black History Month, our students showed that they are caring and principled as they wrote about their dreams for racial equity and relations in our country. Their inspiring words are lining our hallways.

Many students are showing that they are balanced and open-minded as they are trying “new” games at recess. Our lunch and recess supervisors are designing and teaching games to our students each week to build community and have fun together!

I believe our students and staff are showing up every day giving their best to our Aquila Community; I couldn’t be more thankful to be a part of it.

In partnership,

Olivia Tolzin
Aquila Assistant Principal
Black History Month Work
Theater Energy Performance
Dear Edwina Jr Set Reading
Assembly Jump Roping
New Recess Games
Aquila Learning Ally Students Win National Reading Competition
In an effort to foster the love of reading and books, students in a variety of reading support programs received Learning Ally licenses. These students, in grades second through fifth, competed in an “ear reading” competition sponsored by Learning Ally , an organization that provides students with audio books. The competition began on January 13 and wrapped up on February 28. Students received 100 points a day, for every day that they read 20 minutes and 10 points per page. We had some amazing achievements from our Aquila scholars.

A big shout out to all the Learning Ally supporters who helped our students achieve their goal of being first in the United States; parents, teachers, classmates, Kids Place staff, administrators and anyone who congratulated, encouraged and celebrated our kids during this 48 day challenge!!!
Meet Aquila's School Nutrition Staff
Aquila is lucky to have three School Nutrition Staff who love their work and provide great meals to Aquila students and staff.

All of St. Louis Park's School Nutrition information including menus and meal payment accounts can be found by clicking here.

Ms. Debbie (pictured left) has had a variety of roles in the district, but six of her years have been with School Nutrition. She loves to serve "everything" to the students! When she is not at Aquila, you will find her, "going to the lake and riding in my golf cart." She loves Davanni's hot hoagies and hopes to travel to Ireland! Make sure to ask Ms. Debbie when her birthday is the next time you see her!

Ms. Sandy (pictured middle) has been working with SLP School Nutrition for sixteen years. Her favorite school lunch to serve is chicken nuggets because it is an Aquila kid crowd pleaser! When Sandy is not at Aquila, she enjoys camping, hiking, and eating gyros. She would love to travel to Greece someday. One of Sandy's messiest memories on the job was when she started to fill the kitchen sink and forgot about it!

Ms. Tabitha (pictured right) has been at Aquila for six months. Tabitha's favorite school lunch to serve is pizza as it is a favorite meal for many students. When Tabitha is not working she enjoys attending concerts, eating at Pizza Luce, and dreaming about a trip to Sweden.

Aquila students remember your cafeteria manners! Make sure you are moving through the line respectfully, taking the correct amount of food, enjoying kind table conversations, and disposing and recycling your trash correctly.
HealthMovesMinds Fundraiser Update
Last Wednesday, we had our first HealthMovesMinds Assembly. It was a fun event where we showcased our students Double Dutch rope jumping skills by grade level. We were also able to recognize some of our other students with different abilities in the most inclusive manner possible. We had several special visitors from Shape America, MN Shape, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Students, remember to track your class and their fundraising progress on your class thermometer in the gymnasium. The class that spells KINDNESS first gets an extra Fun Friday. MDA has offered to throw an ice cream party for the class that is in first place at the end of next week, Friday, March 13.

TO DONATE ONLINE:
  1. Go to healthmovesminds.org
  2. Scroll down and click on "Register."
  3. Click on "Donate Now."
  4. Fill in the information.
  5. Make sure you put "Team Aquila" in the box that asks to credit the donation to a specific fundraiser.
  6. Click on "Give Now" when you are done completing the form.

**Bring back $5 and get the cool HealthMovesMinds wristband.
**Raise $25 online and get the COOL TO BE KIND t-shirt that Mr. Roberts has.

Volunteer Spotlight - Paul and Sandy
St. Louis Park residents Sandy and Paul have been volunteering with Aquila Kindergarteners.This is Sandy's sixth year of volunteering and Paul's third year. They help kindergarteners learn their letter sounds, sight words, reading skills, and math concepts. Paul says he loves to volunteer because it is, "a chance to make a difference." Paul knows his work with students will help them become confident readers. Sandy gives one-on-one time and attention to these learners. Sandy and Paul's two children went to Aquila and they love being able to volunteer in their community. THANK YOU, SANDY AND PAUL!
Mission Success - Rocket Club
Mission to Success, an after school rocket club for fifth graders, held its first meeting on Friday. In attendance were twenty-four fifth graders and nearly a dozen adult volunteers made up of teachers and engineers and scientists from Boston Scientific. Originally funded through a grant from Boston Scientific, the club quickly doubled in size with the support of Principal Shelley Nielsen. The students involved will have the opportunity to build and launch four different rockets while learning about physics and science from adults who have made these students' passion their professional career. 
AQ PTO - Parent Teacher Organization
The Aquila PTO partners with families to enhance the education experience of all Aquila students, families and staff! If you are interested in being involved, please contact AQ PTO President Rachel Bohn at rrbohn@live.com. Please click here to visit our Facebook page !
IMAGINATION FAIR - THIS MONDAY, MARCH 9
The annual Aquila Imagination Fair will be held on Monday, March 9 from 6:30-7:30PM. Please come and walk through the fair and learn from our awesome students. This is a free event. Click here to sign up to help with this event.
BINGO NIGHT!

Aquila BINGO Night
Friday, March 20
6:00-8:00PM
FREE!
Aquila Cafeteria
BOOK FAIR SUCCESS

The February Book Fair was a great success! Families and teachers bought over 350 books and donated over 40 more books to Aquila teachers.

With the sales at conferences, along with online sales and The One and Only Bob pre-sale, we were able to raise over $2,700 for the Aquila Library Media Center. That is over $5,000 raised this year. This blows away our more recent record of $3,800. Ms. Bongaarts says THANK YOU to all the volunteers and families!

As a thank you for your support this year the PTO and Scholastic are teaming together to offer a Scholastic BOGO Sale to Aquila. At this year’s Carnival & Silent Auction in May we will have a Book Fair in the Fifth Grade Wing. For each book purchased, you will receive one book of equal or lesser value for FREE. It will be a great time to stock up for the summer!
Don’t want to cook? Have Parkway Pizza DELIVER to you while supporting Aquila. Mark your calendar for the next event on Wednesday, March 11 . All food and beverage purchases (even deliveries) on the 2nd Wednesday of each month will be donated to the AQ PTO!
Thank you Amazon Shoppers! Amazon Smile donated $81.95 for October - December 2019 sales. Get ready for Spring Break with Amazon and support Aquila Elementary. Click here for AmazonSmile Set-up directions!
Free Yoga Classes - Spring Schedule
Thanks to a Healthy Living Grant from the City of St. Louis Park FREE hour-long yoga classes will be offered!

A certified Yoga instructor, Kate McDonald, will lead the class. No experience with Yoga is necessary! Yoga will be instructed for all levels and flexibility. Modifications will be offered. Free childcare is available during the class in the cafeteria!

Wear comfortable clothes that you can move in. Bring a mat if you have one (if not, extras will be available). Classes will be held in the school gymnasiums. 

At Susan Lindgren Elementary 4801 West 41st Street - 6:30-7:30PM
Monday, March 9
Monday, March 16
Monday, April 6

At Peter Hobart Elementary 6500 West 26th Street - 6:30-7:30PM
Wednesday, April 15
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, April 29
Career-A-Palooza
Key School Dates
  • March 6: No School
  • March 9: Imagination Fair, 6:30-7:30PM
  • March 10: 5th Grade Band Students - District Band Festival Concert, 7:00PM High School
  • March 11: Parkway Pizza PTO Fundraiser Day
  • March 12: Kindergarten Information Night (Incoming Fall 2020)
  • March 19: Career-A-Palooza
  • March 19: Music Concert Grades 2 & 3, 7:00PM
  • March 20: BINGO Night, 6:00PM
  • March 24: Fourth Grade Creative Expression Night, 6:00-7:30PM
  • March 27: No School
  • March 30-April 3: No School
  • April 6: School resumes
  • April 7: 4th and 5th Grade Students - District Orchestra Festival, 7:00PM High School
  • April 14: PTO Meeting, 6:30PM
  • April 22: Incoming 6th Grade Rally Night - 6:30PM, Middle School
  • April 29: Orchestra registration - High School Cafeteria 5:00PM
  • May 7: Music Concert Grades 4 & 5, 7:00PM
  • May 8: Annual School Carnival, 5:00-8:00PM
  • May 12: Orchestra/Band Concert, 2:30PM